Sliding extension car-step.



PATENTED MAR- 251903. S. PAINTER SLIDING EXTENSION GAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED 00123, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

THE- NORRIS FETERS c0. PHOTU-LITHOH WMNINGTON, D- C No. 723,721. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

s. PAINTER. I SLIDING EXTENSION OARSTEP'.

APPLICATION FILED 06123, 1902.

7 N0 MODEL. 2 sums-sign 2.

' Nrrnn STTES Erica.

SAMUEL PAINTER, ()F HARRIMAN, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT P. SULT, OE HARRIMAN, TENNESSEE.

SLIDING EXTENSION CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 723,721, dated March 24, 1903. Application filed October 23, 1902. Serial No. 128,491. (No model.)

To to whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, SAMUEL PAINTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harriman, in the county of Roane and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Sliding Extension Oar-Step, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in extension car=steps.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of extension car steps and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one adapted to be readily applied to the stationary steps of a car and capable of being readily operated to extend it for use and to fold it or arrange it closeto the stationary steps, so that it will be out of the way when not in-use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extension car-step of this character which when arranged in an extended position for use will be firmly supported and perfectly safe. g

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is an end elevation of a portion of a car provided with extension-steps constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view of the same,the extensionsteps being arranged for use. Fig. 3 is a reverse plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view. view of one of the guide-brackets. Fig. 6 is a similar view of one of the side slides.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates an extension car-step designed to be applied to the stationary car-steps 2 at each end of a car, and the said extension-step '1, which is adapted to be lowered from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings to that shown in Fig. 2 to form a continuation of the stationary steps, is supported by side and rear slides 3 and 4. The rear slide 4, which is arranged at an inclination, reciprocates in inclined guide-brackets 6, arranged Fig. 5 is a detailin pairs at opposite sides of the rear or inner face of the stationary steps and designed to be secured to the same in any suitable manner. The rear slide, which is provided at opposite sides with bars 5, has horizontal arms or extensions 7 at the lower ends of the latter, and the inclined guide-brackets are provided at their inner sides with openings receiving the bars 5 of the rear slide. The horizontal arms or extensions 7 of the bars of the rear slide are secured to and supportthe extension-step, and the side slides 3, which are also arranged at an inclination, reciprocate in guides 8 and are provided attheir lower ends with inwardly-extending arms or portions 9, which receive the extension-step and which are secured to the arms 7 at the outer ends thereof. The guides 8, which may be of any desired construction, consist of plates secured to the sides of the stationary steps and provided with openings, preferably formed by recesses or grooves of the inner faces of plates; but these guides'may be con structed in any other desired manner. The upper ends of the side slides are provided with lugs or enlargements 10, projecting outward-and forming shoulders,wh,ich are adapted to engage and rest upon the guides'8, whereby the extension-step is firmly supported in itsextended position and is'strengthened at the point where it is subjected to the greatest strain.

The extension-stepis adapt'ed'to slide freely upward and downward, andthe rear slide 4, which is provided with a slotted member,

preferably in the form of a flange 11, is connected with a rock-shaft 12, provided with a pair of arms 13, spaced apart to receive the flange 11 and provided with a pin'l t, arranged in the slot 15 ofthe flange 11 and'provided with an antifriction-sleeve or other suitable device for reducing the friction to a minimum. The rock-shafts are jo'urn'aledin suitable bearings of brackets 17,and are provided with weighted arms 18, extendingiinwar'd or rearward in the opposite direction from the arms 13 and adapted to couhter'balanethe extension-steps and hold the same in their raised or folded position, whereby the extensionsteps are effectually prevented from being accidentally thrown outward by the jar and at either end of the car.

vibrationincidenttoatraininmotion. When the rock-shaft is rotated, the extension-step is moved upward or downward, according to the direction of the rotation of the said shaft. The rock-shafts of each end ofthe car are provided with end arms 19 and 20, disposed in 0pposite directions, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and connected by links 21 and 22 with the lower portion or arm 23 of an operating-lever 2t. The operating-lever 24 is fulcrumed between its ends on the car, and its upper portion serves as a handle, and it is adapted to be oscillated to rock the shafts for raising and lowering the extension-steps. The steps 1 at the opposite sides of the car are simultaneously raised and lowered by the lever 21, and, if desired, one of the rock-shafts may be extended the entire length of the car to enable the extension-steps at each end of the car to be simultaneously operated from either end of the same. This will enable all of the extension-steps to be operated by a person The bearing-brackets may be of any desired construction, and any suitable bearings may be provided for the shafts to enable the friction to be reduced to a minimum.

It will be seen that the extension-step is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it possesses great strength and durability, and that it is firmly supported in its extended position. It will also be apparent that the operating mechanism is simple and effective and is adapted to enable the extension-step to be quickly raised and lowered and that when the extension-step is in an elevated position, as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, the weighted arm of the rock shaft depends from the same and effectually prevents the extension-step from being accidentally thrown downward by the jar and vibration of the train.

Instead of connecting the rock-shafts by the links2l and 22 in the manner shown they may be connected in any other desired way, and the operating-lever may also be connected with the rock-shafts in any other manner, and, if desired, compressed air, steam, electricity, or any other motive power may be employed for operating the steps.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described the combination with stationary car-steps, of an extension-step, guides mounted on the stationary steps at opposite sides thereof, side slides secured to the extension-step and arrangedin the guides and provided with means for engaging the same for supporting the extension-step in an extended position, a pivoted lever adapted to be operated from the car-platform, a rock-shaft, link connections between the shaft and lever, and operative connections between the shaft and extensionstep; whereby the operation of the lever will rock the shaft to move the step into operative or inoperative position, substantially as de= scribed.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with stationary car-steps, of an extension-step, guide-brackets mounted on the stationary steps in rear thereof, a rear slide provided with side bars arranged in the guide-brackets and provided at their lower ends with arms secured to and supporting the extension-step, a slotted member carried by the rear slide, a rock-shaft provided with an arm having means for engaging the slotted member to operate the step when the shaft is rocked, a lever adapted to be operated from the car-platform, and operative connections between the lever and rock-shaft, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described the combination with stationary steps located at opposite sides of a car, bearing-brackets depending from the car, and extension-steps, of rear slides guided on the stationary steps, rock-shafts journaled in the bearing-brackets and connected with the rear slides and provided with oppositely-disposed end arms, an operating-lever, and links extending from the operating-lever to the end arms, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown I have hereto affixcd my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' SAMUEL PAINTER.

Witnesses:

C. M. GILLART, R0131. P. SULT. 

